A Woman In The Geomatics Industry
Compiled by Manelisi Manellie
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| Photo: Offset by Shutterstock |
According to the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (https://www.westerncape.gov.za/tpw/department-of-infrastructure/become-geomatics-professional), “Geomatics is the study of methods and technologies used to collect, distribute, analyse and present geographical, and spatial data, both natural and human-made”. A woman particularly well-versed in this space is Nozipho Madlala, a Cape Town-based, geomatics professional who offered her valuable time and expertise to discuss her journey in the geomatics profession and its current status quo.
Manelisi Manellie (MM): In what way has the role of women changed in the world?
Nozipho Madlala (NM): In many cultures and in many parts of the world, women were seen as only suitable for remaining in the home and raising children. Our role was mainly confined to motherhood and being good wives. What I have seen in my lifetime is that there has been a huge change in how women are viewed, which has led to transformation in the role of women. I am not faced with the same challenges that women in my mother’s day faced. I am able to pursue and bring to reality dreams that our mothers could only dream about. Today and in many parts of the world, women have access to opportunities which were previously reserved for men. We are able to challenge patriarchal systems without fear. There is still a long way to go still, but there has been many positive changes, especially in South Africa.
MM: Do you believe that women are overlooked in general structures of our current society?
NM: There are structures that still overlook women in both the corporate/organizational structures and in cultural structures. This still happens because of rigidity in some systems and mindsets that do not support or allow change to happen. There are many structures where there are gatekeepers, and surprisingly, you find that some of the gatekeepers are women.
MM: Tell me about your pathway to success?
NM: I can’t map one pathway and say for sure that this was my pathway to success. However, I can say that I am where I am (and how I am) today because the favour of God has carried me and His grace has sustained me over the years. From the time I completed high school, I found God bringing people into my path that would work together and be very intentional in wanting to see me do well in life. Also, being disciplined and not wasting the opportunities given to me really helped me stay in what I consider to be on the right path and to stay committed to my vision for my life.
MM: How does the geomatics profession play a role in the daily lives of society?
NM: Geomatics is a very broad. There is a group of many professions that fall within the umbrella of Geomatics. These include land surveying, geographic information systems, photogrammetry and remote sensing, mine surveying, engineering surveying, and hydrographic surveying. As you can see, these professions themselves are very broad and cover surveys and mapping over the land using terrestrial and airborne techniques, mine surveys and mapping as well as hydrographic (offshore) surveys. The work done by geomatics professionals is the backbone or often the starting point of work performed by other professionals such as navigation, planning, construction, civil engineering, oil exploration, mining, education, the list goes on! Geomatics is actually one the oldest professions in the world. Positioning is the fundamental function of all geomatics professions, built environment and the infrastructure industry as a whole. Since the beginning of time people have been determining where things are and where those things are in relation to other things. These positions are represented on maps and plans which are used for decision making, infrastructure development, management and many other industry applications.
One of the highly legislated fields of geomatics is land surveying, which deals with the determination of cadastral boundaries (immovable property boundaries). These boundaries are then represented on legal diagrams which are the key instruments used when property is registered by the Registrars of Deeds around the country.
MM: What other professional roles exist in your industry?
NM: There are technical, professional, managerial, and executive roles in the geomatics industry. After graduating with a qualification in any of the geomatics disciplines, one is encouraged to register as a candidate geomatics practitioner with the South African Geomatics Council, which is the Statutory Body established in terms of the Geomatics Professions Act No. 19 of 2013. They can either register in the technician, technologist or the professional categories. Once they have completed the prescribed training to qualify to register as either a geomatics technician, technologist or professional in their respective category, they are then able to practice in South Africa.
MM: What interests are necessary for a career in geomatics?
NM: Anyone who wishes to pursue a career in geomatics must be interested in mathematics, geography, law (mainly applicable to land surveying). They must enjoy travelling and working outdoors. Geomatics professionals work mainly on the computer and utilize specialised software and also do a lot of programming themselves, thus a person must also be interested in computers. They must also be attentive to detail and have strong analytical skills.
MM: What qualifications are required to work in geomatics industry?
NM: To work in geomatics as a Geomatics Technician, a National Diploma or Bachelor of Geomatics in either Engineering Survey or Geographical Information Science. is required. To qualify as a geomatics professional, a Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics/Land Surveying/Mine Surveying/Geographical Information Science.
The person must also be registered with the South African Geomatics Council in their respective category.
MM: What challenges exist for young people in geomatics industry?
NM: Young people often struggle with finding placement for training after completing their undergraduate qualifications. The training is compulsory in order for them to register with the Council. There are few companies in South Africa that create spaces for candidates to do their training. The Government and mainly the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, is the largest provider of technical training for qualified Geomatics Technicians in the country. Some municipalities have also now been actively accepting technicians and professionals for internships and other training opportunities.
MM: What myths can be dispelled regarding quota systems in the geomatics industry?
NM: All I can say is that if it wasn’t for the work done by the government of South Africa in transforming the geomatics industry, we wouldn’t have as many Black geomatics practitioners in the country. While we do still remain the minority, especially women, there has been a lot of progress. One of the myths was that women cannot survey. This is far from the truth. When I was doing my technical studies at an institution in Pretoria, certain lecturers would even encourage the boys to not help us on site in order to prove a point. Forgetting that every surveyor needs assistance on site, irrespective of their gender. Today we have women who hold high positions in the geomatics industry not only due to affirmative action and Employment Equity requirements as many believe, but because they are 100% capable, experienced and qualified.
MM: What do you believe is the current relationship between Africa and geomatics?
NM: There is an active and growing geomatics footprint in Africa, even though not all countries are operating at the same level in many of the disciplines. There are also a number of collaborative networks such as the African Reference Frame (AFREF) Working Group, the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (CRMRD) with the Head Office in Kenya, the International Federation of Surveyors (commonly known as the FIG), Africa Regional Network, and many others. These networks collaborate within Africa and the international community at large in areas such as research, capacity building, mentorship programmes, special projects, and many other initiatives.
Geomatics remains a scarce skill even in South Africa, as it is not a commonly known profession on the continent and, as such, there is still a lot of room to grow and opportunities to showcase the importance of geomatics in society.
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| Geomatics professional, Nozipho Madlala |
“Today we have women who hold high positions in the geomatics industry ... because they are 100% capable”
MM: What existing opportunities can be taken advantage of in Africa, with regards to geomatics?
NM: There are specialized fields in geomatics such as Hydrographic Surveying, Geodesy, Mine Surveying, and Photogrammetry which don’t have a lot of registered professionals in South Africa. These are all opportunity areas for geomatics professionals wishing to specialize in them. In addition, land reform and restitution in South Africa are areas where geomatics professionals play an important role in providing expertise and evidence that assists the state in finalizing cases and investigations.
MM: Which city in South Africa offers the most opportunities in your industry and why?
NM: There are opportunities throughout the country for professionals working in public service and those working in the private sector. However, those in private practice are concentrated in the larger cities and metropolitan areas. This is mainly because these are the areas with the largest activity in the immovable property spaces (land development, construction, infrastructure development, etc).
MM: What is your advice for sourcing opportunities in the industry?
NM: Anyone wishing to source opportunities in the industry must ensure that they are registered in terms of the Geomatics Profession Act No. 19 of 2013. They must also be active in the industry via the Voluntary Associations as these are excellent networking platforms.
MM: How difficult is it to gain experience in the industry?
NM: It is not difficult to gain experience as there are a number of ways that one can do this. By the time one registers as either a technician or a professional, they already have some experience because of the legal requirements to undertake prescribed training before registration. While many young practitioners struggle to secure permanent employment, volunteering and taking advantage of internship opportunities is encouraged in order for them to continue to gain experience.
MM: What is the day in the life of a Geomatics Professional?
NM: This differs based on where the practitioner works and in their area of practice. Private Land Surveyors, for example, spend some time in the office and sometimes in the field. Hydrographic surveyors work offshore, GISc (Geographic Information Science) practitioners are mainly office-based, and so forth. Government Land Surveyors are mainly office-based, and their work mainly consists of examining diagrams, general plans, and sectional title plans that are submitted by other land surveying professionals. These plans and diagrams are approved in terms of the Land Survey Act No. 8 of 1997 to ensure that various rights in land are able to be registered in terms of the Deeds Registries Act No. 47 of 1937.
MM: What level of creativity is involved in these daily duties?
NM; The work of Geomatics Professionals is largely legislated and there are many regulations and standards that prescribe how work should be done and the quality of the outputs. As such, there isn’t a lot of room for creativity. However, this is not to say that Geomatics Professionals do not find ways to be innovative and efficient in the way they work.
MM: What is the state of women’s representation in your industry?
NM: Sadly, women are under-represented in the geomatics industry, especially in the surveying stream. In 2019, women made up only 11% of registered Professional Land Surveyors in South Africa.
MM: How are duties considered physically challenging dealt with?
NM: Physically challenging duties must still be done.
MM: What considerations are made to ensure safety and security for women in the industry?
NM: Most geomatics practitioners work in teams and the safety of all team members, irrespective of gender, is a priority no matter the nature of the work being conducted. There are health and safety regulations that ensure that all team members are dressed appropriately for the type of work being done, and that measures are in place to secure the work environment, whether it’s on site or at the office. It is the responsibility of every individual to ensure that they are compliant with all health and safety policies and regulations in place.
MM: What implications do marriage and/or parenthood have on your professional career?
NM: None. However, I have observed that a majority of mothers avoid work that takes them away from their homes for extremely long periods of time.
It is clear that systemic structures are a concrete wall for many industries to break through. Adequate awareness of these restrictions is therefore extremely helpful in aid of avoiding many potential drawbacks. Countless strides have been made to recognise the much neglected infrastructural role of women in our society, with many still proving to be a challenge. The indication that industry gate-keeping not just coming from men, largely suggest that proponents of patriarchy and misogyny come in various forms and genders. There will always be areas for improvement when it comes to transforming society, and the good news is that there are many speaking out and skilling up in favour of deconstructing archaic gender norms. Though awareness extends far beyond being socially conscious, knowledge of one’s own privileges (or hindrances) aids in cultivating an infrastructure of empathy against a concerning dilapidation of human decency in today's culture. As a women that affirms her role in infrastructure development, Nozipho Madlala emphasizes education as a building block to boundless opportunities and a faith-led pathway to personal and professional success.
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